Devon County Council is working to help people find out if they qualify for benefit support, which could make a significant difference to weathering financial difficulties. The County Council is trying to make sure that people get the benefits to which they are entitled, in particular parents who have children with special needs, and older people. Over the last three years, work in this area has ensured an additional £20 million was claimed by those who needed it. The Council will continue to champion this and has committed £850,000 to benefit advice and support schemes over the next three years.

CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

The Citizens Advice Bureau has tremendously wide ranging knowledge of benefits and entitlement – from getting help with paying your mortgage if you are on benefits and help for people facing redundancy, to a specialist service offering advice on benefits and money matters to serving and ex-service personnel, their partners and dependants.

Whoever you are and whatever your situation, there are staff on hand to talk to you and help, and with an office in virtually every town in Devon, it is local too. Its central website can put you in touch with staff locally to you. Go to www.citizensadvice.org.uk or  www.adviceguide.org.uk

CARE DIRECT

A service with the aim of making life easier for older people by improving access to information and help, Care Direct Devon has been developed by the Department for Work and Pensions in partnership with Devon County Council Social Services.

It provides help and information when it is needed, forging links with other organisations to give advice on aids, adaptations, home alarms, housing benefit, council tax, sheltered housing and housing placements. Care Direct also has information about how to get help with alterations, repairs and keeping your house warm and secure.

Financial benefits advice can also be given, from Attendance Allowance, to Disability Living Allowance and Carers Allowance. Staff can go through pensions and taxation legislation and even help with filling in application forms.

Case study 1

Mr and MrA telephoned Care Direct for a free benefits check. They were advised that they had not been claiming a severe disability premium, which they had been entitled to for a number of years, as well as a carer's premium.Care Direct traced the problem back to the couple's original claim, resulting in a back payment of £25,000, and an additional income of £124 per week. Mr A said: "Prior to the increase in benefit payments we were barely living. We never complained, as we are the 'Old School', and assumed that everything was in order.My wife is disabled and partially sighted and this increase has made a vast difference to our day to day living and not having to worry about finances. We are grateful to Care Direct and the visiting officers who have helped, and would encourage everyone to have their benefits checked."

Case study 2

Mr and MrsBapplied for Attendance Allowance to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), but the application was turned down. Care Direct advised Mr B to ask that the application be reconsidered, but the DWP again turned down the application.Care Direct were convinced that the couple had a strong case, and arranged for help to complete the appeal forms. Attendance Allowance was finally accepted and arrears of £6,272 were awarded, as well as an increase in income of £167 per week. MrB said: "We're really pleased we had the advice and support from Care Direct without whom we would not, I'm sure, have had a successful outcome.Older people should not give up when trying to claim benefits if they are knocked back the first time. The form-filling and information gathering can be complicated, so to have expert advice to hand was so welcome."

For more information visit www.devon.gov.uk/caredirect or call 0845 155 1007.

DEVON WELFARE RIGHTS UNIT
DWRU’s main aim is to provide support services to organisations such as Citizens Advice Bureaux, social services, health workers and voluntary agencies rather than directly to members of the public. DWRU staff can assist advisers by identifying benefits or tax credits to which a person may be entitled and by providing assistance with challenging decisions. Anyone dealing with a benefits or tax credits enquiry and having difficulty finding a way forward or who just needs to talk through the case with someone contact 01392 431616, dwru@citizensadvice.org.uk or www.dwru.org

DWRU also provides a comprehensive benefits training programme for advisers on 01392 274869

• Children with Special Needs

Devon County Council has given funding to DWRU for its Quids for Kids project which provides advice directly to families with children with special needs.  The project has helped 600 families with a child with disabilities or special needs in the county secure over £2.6million in additional benefits and tax credits. This equates to an average of £4,000 per family.

Case study 1

Mr R contacted the project after he lost his job.  Both Mrs R and their child have disabilities.  Mr R had claimed Jobseekers Allowance.  His adviser identified that he was entitled to Carer’s Allowance and that his wife could then claim Income Support for the family.  Their child was also on too low a rate of Disability Living Allowance.  The advice resulted in an increase in income of about £4000 per year.

Case study 2

Mrs D’s self-employed business was suffering as a result of the credit crunch.  She sought advice about whether she would be better off giving up work.  She has two children, one of whom has Downs Syndrome.  Mrs D’s adviser identified that her Tax Credits were being paid at too low a rate because the disability element for a child was not being included.  It was also identified that Mrs D’s disabled son should probably be getting a higher rate of Disability Living Allowance and the adviser helped to secure this. The family’s income increased by £3000 per year and Mrs D decided to continue working.

Case study 3

Mrs K was working part-time as a nurse and was claiming Tax Credits.  Her childcare costs and the rising costs of travel to work were leading her to the conclusion that she couldn’t afford to keep working.  She didn’t know that she could claim Carer’s Allowance. After coming for advice she found herself £30 better off per week and was able to continue working

For a free entitlement check and confidential advice, families with children with special needs only should contact the organisation on 01392 274869.

BEGINNERS’ GUIDE TO BENEFITS
The Direct.Gov online service can help you through the minefield of benefits and entitlement. Its Beginners’ Guide to Benefits can help you work out if you're able to get any State Benefit assistance particularly if you are sick, have a low income or dependent children.

It also shows you how to claim benefit, with help in finding out which department you need to contact in order to claim a benefit and how to do it once you find them. Go to www.direct.gov.uk